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THIS IS NOT MY CLICK.
One of my friend sent me these wonderfull pictures of new Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. One should go and watch this place...i am also planning to see this place in near future.
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The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple on the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The sprawling Rs.200-crore pink sandstone cultural complex spread over 100 acres showcases the grandeur of Indian history, art, culture and values. Designed by architect Virendra Sompura and conceptualised by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it took over 7,000 master craftsmen and thousands of volunteers from all over the world almost five years to complete this modern day marvel.
The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a masterpiece in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches.
The monument stands on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants which are encircled by a double-storied colonnade that depicts tales from the epics.
The complex has exhibition halls, an Imax theatre and a musical fountain, surrounded by a garden, and is much more than a mere place of pilgrimage.
The temple complex is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi. It will be thrown open to the public from November 8, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The timings will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 15.
For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, for exhibition halls and theatres an entry fee of Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75.
To know more about Delhi, visit Delhi City Guide
THIS IS NOT MY CLICK.
One of my friend sent me these wonderfull pictures of new Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. One should go and watch this place...i am also planning to see this place in near future.
------------------------------------------------------
The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple on the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The sprawling Rs.200-crore pink sandstone cultural complex spread over 100 acres showcases the grandeur of Indian history, art, culture and values. Designed by architect Virendra Sompura and conceptualised by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it took over 7,000 master craftsmen and thousands of volunteers from all over the world almost five years to complete this modern day marvel.
The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a masterpiece in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches.
The monument stands on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants which are encircled by a double-storied colonnade that depicts tales from the epics.
The complex has exhibition halls, an Imax theatre and a musical fountain, surrounded by a garden, and is much more than a mere place of pilgrimage.
The temple complex is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi. It will be thrown open to the public from November 8, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The timings will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 15.
For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, for exhibition halls and theatres an entry fee of Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75.
To know more about Delhi, visit Delhi City Guide
Northern India is at the moment reeling under unprecedented heavy rain and floods.The worst affected state is Himachal Pradesh where many lives have been lost and property worth crores of rupees has been washed away.I have spoken to my friends there and thankfully their families are safe.
The results of mindless development ,unplanned construction activity and blatant neglect of the warning signs of nature is now visible to us.Sadly in my country I don't think it will make any difference in the future.We will blindly go on just as we have been till now regardless of consequences.
This is a photo of Sangla valley , a remote and beautiful valley in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh,India. The average altitude of this valley is around 10000 feet.The River Baspa flows through this valley famous for its mesmerising beauty,its picturesque villages,its forests of deodar and birch and its apple orchards.
The Patratu Lake Resort (PLR) main entrance of Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) located nearly 34 km from the state capital Ranchi.
Patratu Lake Resort was developed as a global tourist destination at an estimated cost of INR 200 crore.
This iconic memorial to Queen Victoria was proposed to be built by the Marquess Curzon then Viceroy of India.The foundation was laid by the Prince of Wales later George V on 4th of January 1906.The building was formally opened to the public in 1921.By the time it was opened the capital of British India had already been shifted to Delhi.
The total cost of building was Rupees 1 crore and 50 lakhs and it was funded by the princely Indian states,enthusiastic individuals of the British Raj and the British Government in London.The architect was William Emerson and the style is Indo-Saracenic revivalist.
Source :- Wikipedia
#97
©Shantanu Dutta-ALL rights reserved. This image may not be used for ANY purpose without written permission.
Dated: 11.10.2022
Durga Puja was declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, in 2021. “Durga Puja is a religious festival that has become a cultural and secular event. It has also become a space for social and artistic activities.
For more information
www.unesco.org/en/articles/durga-puja-inscribed-unesco-re...!
West Bengal is home to around 43,000 Durga Pujas, and the business around it is a big driver for the economy. A research commissioned by the British Council at the behest of the West Bengal tourism department had pegged the total economic worth of the creative industries around it at Rs 32,377 crore (the figures were estimated around the 2019 Durga Puja).
Will the heritage tag give it a fillip?
Tapati Guha Thakurta, former director and honorary professor, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta, believes that the UNESCO award can be a great boost to tourism. “It’s an international branding of a festival. So this is the best opportunity to bring international tourists.”
The crafts around the festival – from the idol-making at Kumartuli to the handicrafts that revolve around it – will get a huge boost, says the art historian.
Copyright - All images are copyright © protected. All Rights Reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without my written permission from me the artist is strictly prohibited.
A 108-feet-tall monolithic statue weighing 420 tonne of Lord Vishnu in his Vishwaroopam consecrated in the premises of Shri Kodandarama Swamy Temple in Ejipura, Bengaluru City on 1st June 2025. It was brought from Thiruvannamalai (Tamilnadu) to the city over a span of six-months, crossing multiple hurdles, on 240-wheel truck in 2019.
The man behind the monolithic statue is Dr B Sadanand, a retired government doctor, who started working on the project in 2010.
The first phase involving pre-erection work and sculpting of the main deity and Adishesha. The total cost of completing the statue, which included completion of the sculpture, polishing, crane work, building frame for the statue and other civil works is Rs 2.60 crore.
"For seven months now, a colossal slab of granite, weighing 420 tonnes, quarried from a hill in Korakottai village in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, has been travelling on a vehicle with 240 wheels, as it makes its way to a temple in Bengaluru’s Ejipura." Indian Express
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The spectacular palace sprawling over an area of 26 acres was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh between 1929 and 1942,as famine relief project and costed over Rs 1.5 Crores.It is believed to be the largest personal residence in the world as well as the only palace to be constructed in 20 th century.HV. Lancaster and J.R. Lodge were the chief architects.It's a splendid example of Indo-colonial and art deco style of the '30s.The unique feature of this palace is the fact that hand chiselled sandstone blocks have been put together in a special system of interlocking and there is no morter binding..A portion of this palace has been converted into a luxurious hotel.
A view of the river Yamuna as it winds its way to meet the River Ganges at the Sangam (on the horizon) at Prayagraj , India.To the left of the shot are the ramparts of Prayagraj (Allahabad) Fort built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. As the sun sets, lights come on in the camps established for pilgrims to the Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela or Festival of the Sacred Pitcher is an important Hindu Pilgrimage celebrated approximately every 6th, 12th and 144 years, correlated with the partial or full revolution of Jupiter. It represents the largest gathering of human beings in the world.Some come to take a dip in the holy waters and atone for their sins, some come in quest of spirituality or inner peace and some come just to witness the Wonder that is India.:-)
The festival is marked by a ritual dip in the waters which Hindus believe is a means of atonement for past sins.The festival is also a celebration of community commerce with numerous fairs, mass gathering of sadhus(monks), religious discources by saints and other activities.
This year the Maha Kumbh Mela which happens every 144 years is being held at the city of Prayagraj or Allahabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It commenced on the 13th of January, 2025 and already over 50 crore devotees have visited the Mela. Sadly, there have been two stampedes in which a total of over a hundred pilgrims have lost their lives.
The Maha Kumbh has seen celebrities not only from India but also abroad. Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of late Steve Jobs, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Dakota Johnson and Richard Gere are some international celebrities who have visited the Maha Kumbh Mela, 2025.
The Mela comes to an end on the 26th of February on the auspicious occassion of Maha Shivratri. Incredible India!
The Kumbh Mela or Festival of the Sacred Pitcher is an important Hindu pilgrimage celebrated approximately every 6th, 12th and 144 years correlated with the partial or full revolution of the Jupiter. Traditionally the 4 riverside sites where the Fair is held periodically are - Prayagraj or Allahabad (Confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati), Haridwar ( River Ganges), Nashik- Trimbakeshwar (River Godavari) and Ujjain (River Shipra).Hindu Mythology describes the creation of a pot (Kumbh) of Amrit ( Nectar of immortality) after the forces of good (the Gods) and evil (the Demons) churn the Ocean of Creation.The Gods and Demons fight over this pot and in the process the pot splits and the nectar is spilt at the above 4 places where the Kumbh Melas are held.
THIS IS NOT MY CLICK.
One of my friend sent me these wonderfull pictures of new Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. One should go and watch this place...i am also planning to see this place in near future.
------------------------------------------------------
The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple on the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The sprawling Rs.200-crore pink sandstone cultural complex spread over 100 acres showcases the grandeur of Indian history, art, culture and values. Designed by architect Virendra Sompura and conceptualised by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it took over 7,000 master craftsmen and thousands of volunteers from all over the world almost five years to complete this modern day marvel.
The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a masterpiece in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches.
The monument stands on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants which are encircled by a double-storied colonnade that depicts tales from the epics.
The complex has exhibition halls, an Imax theatre and a musical fountain, surrounded by a garden, and is much more than a mere place of pilgrimage.
The temple complex is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi. It will be thrown open to the public from November 8, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The timings will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 15.
For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, for exhibition halls and theatres an entry fee of Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75.
To know more about Delhi, visit Delhi City Guide
THIS IS NOT MY CLICK.
One of my friend sent me these wonderfull pictures of new Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. One should go and watch this place...i am also planning to see this place in near future.
------------------------------------------------------
The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple on the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The sprawling Rs.200-crore pink sandstone cultural complex spread over 100 acres showcases the grandeur of Indian history, art, culture and values. Designed by architect Virendra Sompura and conceptualised by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it took over 7,000 master craftsmen and thousands of volunteers from all over the world almost five years to complete this modern day marvel.
The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a masterpiece in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches.
The monument stands on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants which are encircled by a double-storied colonnade that depicts tales from the epics.
The complex has exhibition halls, an Imax theatre and a musical fountain, surrounded by a garden, and is much more than a mere place of pilgrimage.
The temple complex is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi. It will be thrown open to the public from November 8, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The timings will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 15.
For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, for exhibition halls and theatres an entry fee of Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75.
To know more about Delhi, visit Delhi City Guide
THIS IS NOT MY CLICK.
One of my friend sent me these wonderfull pictures of new Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. One should go and watch this place...i am also planning to see this place in near future.
------------------------------------------------------
The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple on the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The sprawling Rs.200-crore pink sandstone cultural complex spread over 100 acres showcases the grandeur of Indian history, art, culture and values. Designed by architect Virendra Sompura and conceptualised by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it took over 7,000 master craftsmen and thousands of volunteers from all over the world almost five years to complete this modern day marvel.
The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a masterpiece in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches.
The monument stands on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants which are encircled by a double-storied colonnade that depicts tales from the epics.
The complex has exhibition halls, an Imax theatre and a musical fountain, surrounded by a garden, and is much more than a mere place of pilgrimage.
The temple complex is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi. It will be thrown open to the public from November 8, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The timings will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 15.
For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, for exhibition halls and theatres an entry fee of Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75.
To know more about Delhi, visit Delhi City Guide
India will soon make it to a select club of nations that boast of sky-high air traffic control (ATC) towers. Mumbai's Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, being developed by the GVK-promoted MIAL will be the country's tallest ATC tower - at 83 meters, roughly the height of a 22 storey building.
The ATC tower is expected to be completed by June this year and will be operational from January 2013. The tower, which will cost an estimated Rs 350 crore, will be the world's fourth-largest.
THIS IS NOT MY CLICK.
One of my friend sent me these wonderfull pictures of new Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. One should go and watch this place...i am also planning to see this place in near future.
------------------------------------------------------
The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple on the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The sprawling Rs.200-crore pink sandstone cultural complex spread over 100 acres showcases the grandeur of Indian history, art, culture and values. Designed by architect Virendra Sompura and conceptualised by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it took over 7,000 master craftsmen and thousands of volunteers from all over the world almost five years to complete this modern day marvel.
The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a masterpiece in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches.
The monument stands on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants which are encircled by a double-storied colonnade that depicts tales from the epics.
The complex has exhibition halls, an Imax theatre and a musical fountain, surrounded by a garden, and is much more than a mere place of pilgrimage.
The temple complex is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi. It will be thrown open to the public from November 8, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The timings will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 15.
For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, for exhibition halls and theatres an entry fee of Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75.
To know more about Delhi, visit Delhi City Guide
THIS IS NOT MY CLICK.
One of my friend sent me these wonderfull pictures of new Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. One should go and watch this place...i am also planning to see this place in near future.
------------------------------------------------------
The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple on the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The sprawling Rs.200-crore pink sandstone cultural complex spread over 100 acres showcases the grandeur of Indian history, art, culture and values. Designed by architect Virendra Sompura and conceptualised by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it took over 7,000 master craftsmen and thousands of volunteers from all over the world almost five years to complete this modern day marvel.
The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a masterpiece in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches.
The monument stands on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants which are encircled by a double-storied colonnade that depicts tales from the epics.
The complex has exhibition halls, an Imax theatre and a musical fountain, surrounded by a garden, and is much more than a mere place of pilgrimage.
The temple complex is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi. It will be thrown open to the public from November 8, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The timings will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 15.
For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, for exhibition halls and theatres an entry fee of Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75.
To know more about Delhi, visit Delhi City Guide
www.mid-day.com/news/2009/aug/250809-swine-flu-virus-ganp...
God will keep us alive
By: Varun Singh Date: 2009-08-25 Place: Mumbai
Foolhardy ganpati mandals spurn protective masks saying havans and aartis will keep temperatures high enough to kill swine flu virus. (and, of course, there's god and prayers)
Religion, Karl Marx famously said, is the opiate of the masses and in Mumbai it has certainly drugged devotees into being foolhardy.
Committee members of the GSB Mandal, King's Circle and Lalbaugcha Raja have complete faith that the lord will protect them and every single devotee against swine flu.
This means, nobody wears protective masks. And it's not just faith they say, but scientific rationale.
Said Trupti Prabhu, committee member of the GSB Mandal, "Our in-house doctor has told the organising committee that there is no need to panic as the virus dies in high temperatures.
We will hold an aarti and a havan 24X7 for all the five days the Lord is with us. The heat generated by these will not allow the virus to spread."
The doctor in question, Dr Bhujang Pai is also convener of GSB mandal. "It has been noted that the virus spreads in cool temperatures, which is why Pune has been affected.
In the pandal, there are going to be regular havans and artis, due to which, the temperature within, will be on the higher side.
It will certainly be above the body temperature [98.6ÃÂðF or 37ÃÂðC] and will therefore prevent the spread of the virus," said Pai, who is the chief of the radiology department at a private hospital.
He added the mandal would not be using ACs or coolers, as the temperature will then be lowered.
We haven't measured the temperature in the pandal, but what makes our claim strong is that till now not a single person has come to the pandal wearing a mask or has covered his face," he said.
However, other doctors slammed this step. "As per literature documenting swine flu, the virus gets killed at a temperature usually above 70 degree celcius.
At a body temperature of 37 degree celcius (98.6ÃÂðF) it propagates faster, and if the temperature is higher, it will still propagate, but at a slower rate," said Dr Jalil Parkar, respiratory physician.
Yet, Pai maintains the mandal has done nothing "major" to contend with swine flu. "A day before Ganesh Chaturthi, the chief priest and I prayed to Ganesha to take care of the devotees.
We are sure that the virus will not affect anyone visiting the pandal," he said calmly. The GSB mandal had three lakh devotees last year, and this year, they expect at least four lakh visitors.
The, 'God will save us' ideology also works for Lalbaugcha Raja, which had nearly three crore visitors last year.
This reporter spotted visitors, organisers, shopkeepers and even on-duty cops at the pandal without masks or any kind of face cover.
Satish Khankar, president of the mandal said, "We are not worried about swine flu. The panic is created entirely by the media.
It will not affect devotees and in fact, I have been praying to God to keep the disease out of Mumbai." Khankar and committee members had prayed on the first day to keep the virus away from the pandal and the devotees.
"We aren't wearing a mask or even covering our faces because we are sure Bappa will save us," said Abhijit Phalke, a committee member.
These men in green are the mendicants you see begging at street corners very close to the Ajmer Sharif by lanes ..
Green is the color representing the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain the erstwhile grandson of the Holy Prophet of Islam.
Some of them carry huge fans that they blow it to keep you away from the heat.
They do not belong to any particular order..they are docile by nature, are fed by the devotees who come to the Holy Shrine..
Crores of Rupees are donated by the public all thrown in a huge vessel within the Holy Shrine this vessel is called the Badi Deg..there is a smaller one called the Choti Deg.
Azgar Ali Chowdhury Jame Mosque is an ancient mosque located in Halishahar, Chittagong.
The mosque was built in 1895 by named Azgar Ali Chowdhury.The mosque was built on 10 acres of land.
About 31 worshipers including Imam can perform prayers in this mosque.In 2016, the mosque became unsuitable for prayers.As a result, the mosque committee decided to renovate it and construct another new building with the consent of the locals.
They commissioned the Urbana Architects Group in Dhaka to renovate the mosque.The mosque was renovated with lime-surki at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.Another new building was constructed on the west side at a cost of about four and a half crore take.
Lake-like water structures are built around it. Much like the National Assembly. Seen from a distance, it looks like it is floating on water.
It is a mosque originally built in imitation of the Mughal establishment.
An effect of the Taj Mahal can be seen in its design. There are beautiful carvings on the walls outside the mosque.Above are 24 minarets. And there are three domes.The middle of the dome is much larger in size. There are no special windows in this mosque. The size of the door is not too big either. This mosque has been built with limestone.
আজগর আলী চৌধুরী জামে মসজিদ চট্টগ্রামের হালিশহরে অবস্থিত একটি প্রাচীন মসজিদ.
১৭৯৫ সালে আজগর আলী চৌধুরী নামে একজন স্থানীয় ব্যক্তি এই মসজিদটি তৈরি করেন। ১০ শতক জমির ওপর মসজিদটি নির্মাণ করা হয়। ইমামসহ প্রায় ৩১ জন মুসল্লি এই মসজিদে নামায আদায় করতে পারেন। ২০১৬ সালের দিকে মসজিদটি নামায পড়ার অনুপযুক্ত হয়ে পড়ে। ফলে মসজিদ কমিটি এলাকাবাসীর সম্মতিতে ঠিক করে এটি সংস্কার করে নতুন আরেকটি ভবন তৈরি করা হবে। ঢাকাস্থ আরবানা আর্টিটেক্ট গ্রুপকে তারা দায়িত্ব দেয় মসজিদটি সংস্কার করার জন্য। ৫০ লক্ষ টাকা খরচ করে চুন-সুরকি দিয়েই মসজিদটিকে সংস্কার করা হয়। আর প্রায় সাড়ে চার কোটি টাকা ব্যয়ে এর পশ্চিম দিকে আরেকটি নতুন ভবন তৈরি করা হয়। এটির চারপাশে লেকের মতো পানির স্থাপনা তৈরি করা হয়। অনেকটা জাতীয় সংসদের মতো। দূর থেকে দেখলে মনে হয় এটি ভেসে আছে পানির ওপরে।
এটি মূলত মোঘল স্থাপনাকে অনুকরণ করে তৈরি করা একটি মসজিদ। তাজমহলের একটি প্রভাব এর নকশায় লক্ষ্য করা যায়। মসজিদের বাইরে দেয়ালে রয়েছে সুন্দর কারুকাজ। উপরে রয়েছে ২৪ টি মিনার। আর গম্বুজ রয়েছে তিনটি। এর মধ্যে মাঝখানের গম্বুজ আকারে অনেক বড়। বিশেষ কোন জানালা এই মসজিদে নেই। দরজার আকারও খুব একটা বড় নয়। চুন-সুড়কি দিয়েই এই মসজিদটি তৈরি করা হয়েছে।
Mumbai, India. Day 2.
Slum rehabilitation projects visit: public housing by Mahila Milan. Mahila Milan means "Women Together" in Hindi and is a decentralised network of poor women's collectives that manage credit and savings activities in their communities. Mahila Milan aims to provide a space for women to take on important decision making roles and be recognised for their critical contributions towards improving the lives of their communities. Mahila Milan was initiated in 1986 when 500 women who lived on Mumbai's pavements organised themselves to successfully prevent the demolitions of their homes. Today, Mahila Milan has given out tens of thousands of loans to poor women all across the country and has collected savings worth several crores of rupees.
On the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901, Lord Curzon, who was then Viceroy of India, placed before the public the question of setting up a fitting memorial to the Queen. He suggested that the most suitable memorial would be a "stately", spacious, monumental and grand building surrounded by an exquisite garden.
The princes and people of India responded generously to his appeal for funds and the total cost of construction of this monument amounting to one crore, five lakhs of rupees, was entirely derived from their voluntary subscriptions.
King George V, then the Prince of Wales, laid the foundation stone on January 4, 1906 and it was formally opened to the public in 1921.
Thanks for the visit.
Azgar Ali Chowdhury Jame Mosque is an ancient mosque located in Halishahar, Chittagong.
The mosque was built in 1895 by named Azgar Ali Chowdhury.The mosque was built on 10 acres of land.
About 31 worshipers including Imam can perform prayers in this mosque.In 2016, the mosque became unsuitable for prayers.As a result, the mosque committee decided to renovate it and construct another new building with the consent of the locals.
They commissioned the Urbana Architects Group in Dhaka to renovate the mosque.The mosque was renovated with lime-surki at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.Another new building was constructed on the west side at a cost of about four and a half crore take.
Lake-like water structures are built around it. Much like the National Assembly. Seen from a distance, it looks like it is floating on water.
It is a mosque originally built in imitation of the Mughal establishment.
An effect of the Taj Mahal can be seen in its design. There are beautiful carvings on the walls outside the mosque.Above are 24 minarets. And there are three domes.The middle of the dome is much larger in size. There are no special windows in this mosque. The size of the door is not too big either. This mosque has been built with limestone.
আজগর আলী চৌধুরী জামে মসজিদ চট্টগ্রামের হালিশহরে অবস্থিত একটি প্রাচীন মসজিদ.
১৭৯৫ সালে আজগর আলী চৌধুরী নামে একজন স্থানীয় ব্যক্তি এই মসজিদটি তৈরি করেন। ১০ শতক জমির ওপর মসজিদটি নির্মাণ করা হয়। ইমামসহ প্রায় ৩১ জন মুসল্লি এই মসজিদে নামায আদায় করতে পারেন। ২০১৬ সালের দিকে মসজিদটি নামায পড়ার অনুপযুক্ত হয়ে পড়ে। ফলে মসজিদ কমিটি এলাকাবাসীর সম্মতিতে ঠিক করে এটি সংস্কার করে নতুন আরেকটি ভবন তৈরি করা হবে। ঢাকাস্থ আরবানা আর্টিটেক্ট গ্রুপকে তারা দায়িত্ব দেয় মসজিদটি সংস্কার করার জন্য। ৫০ লক্ষ টাকা খরচ করে চুন-সুরকি দিয়েই মসজিদটিকে সংস্কার করা হয়। আর প্রায় সাড়ে চার কোটি টাকা ব্যয়ে এর পশ্চিম দিকে আরেকটি নতুন ভবন তৈরি করা হয়। এটির চারপাশে লেকের মতো পানির স্থাপনা তৈরি করা হয়। অনেকটা জাতীয় সংসদের মতো। দূর থেকে দেখলে মনে হয় এটি ভেসে আছে পানির ওপরে।
এটি মূলত মোঘল স্থাপনাকে অনুকরণ করে তৈরি করা একটি মসজিদ। তাজমহলের একটি প্রভাব এর নকশায় লক্ষ্য করা যায়। মসজিদের বাইরে দেয়ালে রয়েছে সুন্দর কারুকাজ। উপরে রয়েছে ২৪ টি মিনার। আর গম্বুজ রয়েছে তিনটি। এর মধ্যে মাঝখানের গম্বুজ আকারে অনেক বড়। বিশেষ কোন জানালা এই মসজিদে নেই। দরজার আকারও খুব একটা বড় নয়। চুন-সুড়কি দিয়েই এই মসজিদটি তৈরি করা হয়েছে।
Masjid-e- Eidgah, Bilal is one the largest Mosques in Bengaluru. It was inaugurated in mid 2015. The Turkish style ‘Masjid was consecrated on June 11. The mosque sits on the corner of a traffic intersection on a popular thoroughfare of Southern part of the city. Prestige Group of developers undertook the construction which began in 2010 and was completed.n 2015. The mosque constructed at a cost of Rs. 20 crore provides space for 6,500 namazis to pray at a time.
March 26 has declared the “Genocide Day” to commemorate the nation's battle for independence against the Pakistani occupation forces that killed some three million Bangladeshis in 1971.
“It is the heartfelt demand of the country's 16 crore people that the day [March 26] is announced the genocide day,”
Infosys Mysore DC
“The Education Centre, one of the largest of its kind in the world, will train technology professionals. Located in the 270-acre Infosys Mysore campus, the centre can accommodate 4,500 trainees at any given time. Infosys’ total investment commitment in the Mysore Centre is Rs. 520 crore (USD 119.3 million), of which Rs. 285 crore (USD 65.4 million) pertains to the Global Education Centre complex.”
Vidarbha is the north-eastern region of Maharashtra state(India), now forming two divisions (Nagpur and Amravati). It is less economically prosperous compared to the rest of Maharashtra.
Vidarbha was in the media spotlight for a spate of farmer suicides in recent years ostensibly because of the falling Minimum Support Price for cotton. The problem is complex and root causes include lopsided policies of the World Trade Organisation and developed nations' subsidies to their cotton farmers which make Vidarbha's cotton uncompetitive in world markets. Consequently Vidarbha is plagued by high rates of school drop outs, penniless widows left in the wake of suicides, loan sharks and exploitation of the vulnerable groups.
The Indian government had promised to increase the minimum rate for cotton by approximately Rs 100 ($2) but reneged on its promise by reducing the Minimum Support Price further. This resulted in more suicides as farmers were ashamed to default on debt payments to loan sharks. "In 2006, 1,044 suicides were reported in Vidarbha alone - that's one suicide every eight hours.
On 1 July 2006 the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh announced a Rs. 3,750-crore (Rupees 37.5 billion) relief package for Vidharbha. The package should help farmers in six districts of the region. However not everybody is convinced that the aid is getting through to where it is needed. Activists covering the region feel that a lot more needs to be done. A fortnight after the PM's package was announced, journalist P Sainath wrote the following article in the Hindu criticising the package and saying that it was destined to fail.
Source: Wikipedia
It’s a mass murder by a faulty governing system.
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May their souls rest in peace, but humanity owe them justice!
Karnafuli Bridge a 919.48m long road bridge over the karnafuli River at Chandgaon upazila, Chittagong district. Basically it is a steel truss bridge on steel pile foundation. The people of Chittagong and its adjoining area were anxiously looking for a bridge over the river Karnafuli to extend the city beyond the Karnafuli river to the southern side and to link cox's bazar and other areas by road.
Karnafuli Bridge
The Government of Bangladesh negotiated with the Royal Dutch Government of the Netherlands for constructing the Karnafuli Bridge with their assistance. The Dutch Government found the project economic, feasible and agreed to construct a bridge over the Karnafuli in Chittagong by reusing a 922m portion of their Eastern Scheldt Bridge under the Dutch Grant BD/86/030. A contract was signed in Dhaka in January 1988 with a Dutch joint venture Interbeton/HCG b.v. for the construction of the bridge. The bridge was scheduled to be completed in December 1989. As per terms of the mutual understanding between the two governments the approach roads were to be constructed by the Bangladesh Government. However, the main bridge was completed in June 1989. Recently the bridge has been named as Shah Amanat Bridge.
The location of the main bridge is about 700m upstream of Iqbal Ghat, about 1.5 km upstream of Sadarghat and about 7 km downstream of Kalurghat Railway Bridge, Chittagong. The carriageway is 7m wide and is two laned. The sidewalk is 1.5m on either side. The floor or decking of the bridge is made up of Azobe timber with protective bituminous stone drips coating. Navigational clearance (ie difference between river water level and base of the bridge) is 12.2 m. The Bridge can resist the wind force upto 200 km per hour. On account of earthquake allowable horizontal force on the bridge is 0.10 G. Maximum allowable velocity of current is 2.5m/sec. Maximum allowable temperature variation is 45'C. Allowable utility line loading is 3 KN/m. Total cost of the project including main bridge and approach roads was Tk 1415.3 million, while total cost of the main bridge was Tk 775.4 million.
The length of the roads from Chittagong side is 5 km and from patiya side is 10.5 km. Total length of the roads including bridge is 16.5 km. The width of the pavement from Bahaddarhat to Fakirer Tek is 7.3m and between Patiya and Anwara road portion is 5.48 m. The crest width of road from Bahaddarhat to Fakirer Tek is 12.2m and between Patiya and Anwara is 9.75m. On detection of crack on the surface planks of the bridge the plying of heavy vehicles was made restricted from 2000. The bridge is now in operation.
The construction of the third Karnafuli Bridge began in August 2006 under the joint financial support of the government of Bangladesh and of Kuwait. The length of the bridge is 950 m and the breadth is 24.4 m. The main bridge with its four-track footpath and dividers measures 830 m of which the viaduct is 120 m. The cost of construction of the bridge including the connecting roads on both sides was estimated at 590 crore taka, out of which the Kuwait government has paid taka 372 crores as loan. The balance is borne by the Bangladesh government. The total expenditure incurred for the construction of the bridge stands as taka 380 crores. The bridge has been constructed by the China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited. Out of a total of ten pillars of the bridge, four pillars are at the central point of the river and six pillars are on its north and southern sides. It is the only bridge of the country built under Extra Dose Cable Straid technology. The three years termed project though scheduled to be completed in 2009 could not be finished in time due to late in constructing the connecting roads. The bridge was made open for vehicles in September 2010. The bridge will make the communication easier for the people of the region including south Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, and will have positive influence on the economy of the country.
Dal Lake, Srinagar,Jammu & Kashmir, India
Dal Lake is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The urban lake, which is the second largest in the state, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel". The lake is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting.
The shore line of the lake, is about 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi), is encompassed by a boulevard lined with Mughal era gardens, parks, houseboats and hotels. Scenic views of the lake can be witnessed from the shore line Mughal gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir and from houseboats cruising along the lake in the colourful shikaras. During the winter season, the temperature sometimes reaches −11 °C (12 °F), freezing the lake.
The lake covers an area of 18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi) and is part of a natural wetland which covers 21.1 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi), including its floating gardens. The floating gardens, known as "Rad" in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August. The wetland is divided by causeways into four basins; Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin (although Nagin is also considered as an independent lake). Lokut-dal and Bod-dal each have an island in the centre, known as Rup Lank (or Char Chinari) and Sona Lank respectively.
At present, the Dal Lake and its Mughal gardens, Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh on its periphery are undergoing intensive restoration measures to fully address the serious eutrophication problems experienced by the lake. Massive investments of around US $275 million (INR1100 crores) is being made by the Government of India to restore the lake to its original splendour.
Deep in the lush jungles of the north-eastern state of Tripura,some 178 kms from the capital Agartala,are the amazing rock -cut sculptures of Unakoti.It is a Shiva pilgrimage place dating back to the 7th and 9th centuries AD if not earlier.Nothing much is known about these wonderful sculptures of Indian Gods and Goddesses with their primitive beauty.
Unakoti literally means one less than a crore(10 million).One legend goes that a blacksmith named Kallu from this area wanted to accompany Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati to their abode in Mount Kailash.Shiva told him that he should carve one crore images overnight if he wanted to accompany them.When morning came Kallu had carved one less than a crore images and was therefore left behind.Hence the name Unakoti.
Apart from these rock cut images there are a few beautiful statues also.
THIS IS NOT MY CLICK.
One of my friend sent me these wonderfull pictures of new Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. One should go and watch this place...i am also planning to see this place in near future.
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The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple on the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The sprawling Rs.200-crore pink sandstone cultural complex spread over 100 acres showcases the grandeur of Indian history, art, culture and values. Designed by architect Virendra Sompura and conceptualised by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it took over 7,000 master craftsmen and thousands of volunteers from all over the world almost five years to complete this modern day marvel.
The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a masterpiece in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches.
The monument stands on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants which are encircled by a double-storied colonnade that depicts tales from the epics.
The complex has exhibition halls, an Imax theatre and a musical fountain, surrounded by a garden, and is much more than a mere place of pilgrimage.
The temple complex is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi. It will be thrown open to the public from November 8, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The timings will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November 15.
For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, for exhibition halls and theatres an entry fee of Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75.
To know more about Delhi, visit Delhi City Guide
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was built by the British in 1908, and was initially operated by the Madras Railway Company. The railway still relies heavily on its fleet of steam locomotives.The Southern Railway, with headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu which operates the NMR, incurs an annual shortfall of Rs 4 crores, (~US$1 million). NMR comes under the jurisdiction of the newly formed Salem Division.
In July 2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the site then became known as "Mountain Railways of India."after it satisfied the necessary criteria, thus forcing abandonment of the modernisation plans.
For the past several years diesel locomotives have taken over from steam on the section between Coonoor and Udhagamandalam. Local people and tourists have led a demand for steam locos to once again haul this section.
The famous Hindi song "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from the film "Dil Se" featuring Shahrukh Khan was shot on the roof top of NMR.
Vidyasagar Setu, also known as the Second Hooghly Bridge, is a bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. It links the city of Howrah to its twin city of Kolkata. The bridge is a toll bridge for all vehicles. At a total length of 822.96 m, it is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India and one of the longest in Asia. It was built at a cost of Rs 388 crores and commissioned on October 10, 1992.[1][2] Its construction was a joint effort of the Public Sector Undertakings and private firms, under the control of the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners.[3]
It was the second bridge to be built across the Hooghly River, after the Howrah Bridge (also known as Rabindra Setu) 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to its south was built in 1943. The bridge is named after the 19th century Bengali educationist reformer Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
~~~~~~~~~Wikipedia~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally back home in Calcutta after 3 years without any vacation! Apologies to my flickr friends for not being able to drop by your pages, but the internet connection in India hasn't quite caught up yet. Oh and I also realized that I'm spoiled as hell when it comes to the internet!
Have quite a few snaps to put up once I get back next week. Will drop by and see what you good folks have been up to as well.
The Vikasa Saudha has eight floors spread over an area of 7.5 acres, with a built-up area of 58,274 sq m. It has 360 rooms overlooking four courtyards. There are three cafeterias and a printing press. A pedestrian subway connects it to the Vidhana Soudha .It has a hydro-pneumatic system for water supply and 100 KW solar power grid system.
There is parking facility for about 600 cars in the three basement floors.It was build at a cost of Rs 148 crore.
Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban (Bengali: জাতীয় সংসদ ভবন Jatio Shôngshod Bhôbon) is the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh, located in the capital Dhaka. It was created by architect Louis I. Kahn and is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world. It houses all parliamentary activities of Bangladesh.
Construction of the Jatiya Shangshad Bhaban began in 1961 by the Government of Pakistan as a permanent building for the federal legislature of both West and East Pakistan. However, it was the eighth (and last) session of the second parliament of Bangladesh that first used it on 15 February 1982 after its construction was completed on 28 January of the same year. The Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban has been in operation and has acted as the sole complex used as the National Assembly ever since.
Jatiya Shangshad was designed by Louis Kahn. First, Muzharul Islam was given to design Jatiya Shangshad Bhaban by the government. But, Islam brought his teacher Louis Kahn into the project to do a significant work for future generation. But, Muzharul Islam assisted Kahn at the project.
Data
•Beginning of construction: 1961
•Cost of construction and design: Tk. 129 crore or 1.29 billion (=1,290,000,000)
•Inauguration: 28 January 1982
•Architect: Louis I. Kahn
•Total area: 200 acres (800,000 m²)
•Location: Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
•Number of Parliaments: 7 (seven)
•GIS coordinates: 23.762465°,90.378545°
(Wikipedia)
Azgar Ali Chowdhury Jame Mosque is an ancient mosque located in Halishahar, Chittagong.
The mosque was built in 1895 by named Azgar Ali Chowdhury.The mosque was built on 10 acres of land.
About 31 worshipers including Imam can perform prayers in this mosque.In 2016, the mosque became unsuitable for prayers.As a result, the mosque committee decided to renovate it and construct another new building with the consent of the locals.
They commissioned the Urbana Architects Group in Dhaka to renovate the mosque.The mosque was renovated with lime-surki at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.Another new building was constructed on the west side at a cost of about four and a half crore take.
Lake-like water structures are built around it. Much like the National Assembly. Seen from a distance, it looks like it is floating on water.
It is a mosque originally built in imitation of the Mughal establishment.
An effect of the Taj Mahal can be seen in its design. There are beautiful carvings on the walls outside the mosque.Above are 24 minarets. And there are three domes.The middle of the dome is much larger in size. There are no special windows in this mosque. The size of the door is not too big either. This mosque has been built with limestone.
আজগর আলী চৌধুরী জামে মসজিদ চট্টগ্রামের হালিশহরে অবস্থিত একটি প্রাচীন মসজিদ.
১৭৯৫ সালে আজগর আলী চৌধুরী নামে একজন স্থানীয় ব্যক্তি এই মসজিদটি তৈরি করেন। ১০ শতক জমির ওপর মসজিদটি নির্মাণ করা হয়। ইমামসহ প্রায় ৩১ জন মুসল্লি এই মসজিদে নামায আদায় করতে পারেন। ২০১৬ সালের দিকে মসজিদটি নামায পড়ার অনুপযুক্ত হয়ে পড়ে। ফলে মসজিদ কমিটি এলাকাবাসীর সম্মতিতে ঠিক করে এটি সংস্কার করে নতুন আরেকটি ভবন তৈরি করা হবে। ঢাকাস্থ আরবানা আর্টিটেক্ট গ্রুপকে তারা দায়িত্ব দেয় মসজিদটি সংস্কার করার জন্য। ৫০ লক্ষ টাকা খরচ করে চুন-সুরকি দিয়েই মসজিদটিকে সংস্কার করা হয়। আর প্রায় সাড়ে চার কোটি টাকা ব্যয়ে এর পশ্চিম দিকে আরেকটি নতুন ভবন তৈরি করা হয়। এটির চারপাশে লেকের মতো পানির স্থাপনা তৈরি করা হয়। অনেকটা জাতীয় সংসদের মতো। দূর থেকে দেখলে মনে হয় এটি ভেসে আছে পানির ওপরে।
এটি মূলত মোঘল স্থাপনাকে অনুকরণ করে তৈরি করা একটি মসজিদ। তাজমহলের একটি প্রভাব এর নকশায় লক্ষ্য করা যায়। মসজিদের বাইরে দেয়ালে রয়েছে সুন্দর কারুকাজ। উপরে রয়েছে ২৪ টি মিনার। আর গম্বুজ রয়েছে তিনটি। এর মধ্যে মাঝখানের গম্বুজ আকারে অনেক বড়। বিশেষ কোন জানালা এই মসজিদে নেই। দরজার আকারও খুব একটা বড় নয়। চুন-সুড়কি দিয়েই এই মসজিদটি তৈরি করা হয়েছে।
In 2004 this was quite a novelty …. A modern hotel, clean but basic – and less than rs 1000 a night …. And this was the 1st hotel of the chain….. opened in June 2006
A HUNDRED years after setting up the country's first luxury hotel, the Indian Hotels Company Ltd, launched `indiOne', India's first `no attitude' hotel with tariff under Rs 1,000.
The Chairman of Indian Hotels Company, Mr Ratan N. Tata, told newspersons after inaugurating the hotel that this new segment will redefine the Indian hospitality industry.
The hotel is located at the heart of India's Silicon Valley at Whitefield near Bangalore. The company plans to open 150 such hotels across the world though a dozen of these will be set up within the next one year in India. The cost of the hotel near Bangalore is around Rs 10 crore.
Now these IndiOne are renamed to Ginger Hotels - same management....
It initially charged 700 - 999 per night in 2004. Today it charges range from 2999-3499 plus taxes per night.
Built in 22 years (1631-1653) with the orders of Shah Jahan and it was dedicated to Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum), the wife of Shah. 20.000 workers labored and 32 crore rupees were spent during the construction of the monument and it was built according to Islamic architecture.
Statue of Unity
The Statue of Unity is a colossal statue of Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950), who was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home minister of independent India and adherent of Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian Independence movement. Patel was highly respected for his leadership in uniting 562 princely states of India with a major part of the former British Raj to form the single Union of India. The statue is located in the state of Gujarat, India. It is the world's tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 feet). It is located on the Narmada River in the Kevadiya colony, facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of the city of Vadodara and 150 kilometres (93 mi) from Surat.
The project was first announced in 2010 and the construction of the statue started in October 2013 by Larsen & Toubro, with a total construction cost of ₹2,989 crore (₹29.89 billion; US$437 million). It was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar, and was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Sardar Patel's birth. (Source - Wikipedia)
The presiding deity of the Kotilingeshwara temple is lord Shiva. The temple has one of the largest lingams in the world.The main attraction of the temple is a huge lingam measuring 108 ft (33 m) tall and 35 ft (11 m) tall Nandi statue, surrounded by lakhs of small lingams spread over an area of 15 acres. The Nandi is installed over a platform which is 60 feet (18 m) in length, 40 feet (12 m) in width and 4 feet (1.2 m) in height. There are eleven small temples constructed within the premises for various deities. The temple was founded with the intent of installing one crore lingams, hence the name "Kotilingeshwara" where 'Koti' means 'crore'. The statues varying between 1 foot (0.30 m) and 3 feet (0.91 m) in height are installed around the temple by devotees since 1980.
Kotilingeshwara Temple | Karnataka | June '17
# 345 On Explore, 17th October, 2008
On the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901, Lord Curzon, who was then Viceroy of India, placed before the public the question of setting up a fitting memorial to the Queen. He suggested that the most suitable memorial would be a "stately", spacious, monumental and grand building surrounded by an exquisite garden. The princes and people of India responded generously to his appeal for funds and the total cost of construction of this monument amounting to one crore, five lakhs of rupees, was entirely derived from their voluntary subscriptions.The building is 184 ft high upto the base of the figure of Victory, which is another 16 ft high. The groups of figures above the north porch represent Motherhood, Prudence and Learning. Surrounding the main dome are figures of Art, Architecture, Justice, Charity etc. The Memorial is situated on a 64 acres of land with the building covering 338 ft by 228ft. King George V, then the Prince of Wales, laid the foundation stone on January 4, 1906 and it was formally opened to the public in 1921.
Flickr View 30 millions - Just crunching some stats
This is to acknowledge my deep debt of gratitude to all my contacts, friends and well wishers who have seen my photos and appreciated them. I thank each and everyone here on Flickr who took out the time to like my work.
30 Million views on Flickr is a big deal for me as this has been achieved without relying on private body parts. Most high number views are generally of that nature.
Here is hoping for your continued support. My thanks to all - the viewers, the Flickr platform and you.
The Taj Mahal (Persian/Urdu: تاج محل - "crown of palaces"), also "the Taj" is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. This epitome of Mughal architecture was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is regarded as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles. Taj Mahal was built in 22 years (1631-1653) with the orders of Shah Jahan who appointed Lahauri as the principal designer. 20,000 workers labored and 32 crore Rupees were spent during the construction of the monument. It is said that Shah Jahan got the hands of his sculptors and architects cut off so that they would never be able to build a monument as magnificent and beautiful as the Taj again and he even got their eyes gorged out so that they would never be able to witness anything bigger and more beautiful than the monument that they had built during their lifetime. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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After the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901, Lord Curzon, who was then Viceroy of India, placed before the public the question of setting up a fitting memorial to the Queen. He suggested that the most suitable memorial would be a "stately", spacious, monumental and grand building surrounded by an exquisite garden. The princes and people of India responded generously to his appeal for funds and the total cost of construction of this monument amounting to one crore, five lakhs of rupees, was entirely derived from their voluntary subscriptions.The building is 184 ft high upto the base of the figure of Victory, which is another 16 ft high. The groups of figures above the north porch represent Motherhood, Prudence and Learning. Surrounding the main dome are figures of Art, Architecture, Justice, Charity etc. The Memorial is situated on a 64 acres of land with the building covering 338 ft by 228ft. King George V, then the Prince of Wales, laid the foundation stone on January 4, 1906 and it was formally opened to the public in 1921.
I think Tulips are pretty at any stage! As they kept changing, I thought they were looking like little Ballerinas!
About 800 rivers and streams, including their branches, flow through Bangladesh, occupying a vast area of 24,140 kilometers. Once upon a time, the country's economy was built around these rivers. Rivers were the mainstay of life and livelihood. Buriganga is called the lifeblood of Dhaka. It is said that just as London is on the banks of the Thames, so is Dhaka on the banks of the Buriganga. Buriganga flows through the south and west sides of Dhaka. Buriganga River is the old flow path of the Ganges or Padma. And it is a branch of the Dhaleshwari. The age of Dhaka, which was built on the banks of the Buriganga, has also exceeded 400 years. Dhaka became one of the largest commercial cities centered on this river. From the exchange of goods to passenger transport, everything has increased with time. In keeping pace with industrialization, people have destroyed this river little by little. From industrial waste to household waste, this Buriganga is the final destination of everything. Toxic water and waste used by about three crore people are constantly flowing into Buriganga. A large portion of solid waste from households, industries and hospitals in Dhaka city and Keraniganj and surrounding areas is flowing into Buriganga every day without any treatment. Every drop of untreated waste has destroyed this river. Its water has now turned black due to continuous pollution. The black water is emitting a pungent odor. It is difficult to breathe in the stench of the water. Various types of dirt and waste are floating in the river water. Along with this, polythene has further increased the pollution. Buriganga has become one of the most polluted rivers in the world. The people of Dhaka city are responsible for this terrible condition of the river. The level of dissolved oxygen in the water of Buriganga has decreased at an alarming rate, and the amount of toxic substances has increased. Not only the amount of dissolved oxygen, but also all the indicators that determine the purity of water show that the water of Buriganga is unfit for aquatic animals to live in. It is impossible for any aquatic animal to survive in this sanctuary of toxic substances and heavy metals. Let alone fish, no other common aquatic animal is seen in this river. Not only that, the environment of Buriganga is also harmful to humans. Along with unplanned urbanization, rapid population growth has polluted the environment of Buriganga day by day. All the waste of the people of Dhaka city is dumped into this river. This river seems to have an interrelationship with the drains of the city. As a result, waste is being dumped directly into the river through the drains. Again, due to the large number of boats plying in the river to supply raw materials to various industries and transport passengers, the burnt hulls of boats are also one of the reasons for the pollution of Buriganga. And for all these reasons, Buriganga is under threat today. In order to remove the long-term accumulated waste, long-term plans must be taken. Initiatives must be taken to keep the connection of Buriganga with other rivers of Dhaka navigable throughout the year.
শাখা-প্রশাখাসহ প্রায় ৮০০ নদ-নদী বিপুল জলরাশি নিয়ে ২৪ হাজার ১৪০ কিলোমিটার জায়গা দখল করে বাংলাদেশের মধ্য দিয়ে প্রবাহিত হয়েছে। একসময় এই নদ-নদীকে কেন্দ্র করেই গড়ে উঠেছিল দেশের অর্থনীতি। নদ-নদীই ছিল জীবন ও জীবিকা নির্বাহের প্রধান অবলম্বন। বুড়িগঙ্গাকে বলা হয় ঢাকার প্রাণ। বলা হয়ে থাকে টেমসের তীরে যেমন লন্ডন,তেমনই বুড়িগঙ্গার তীরে ঢাকা। ঢাকার দক্ষিণ ও পশ্চিম পাশ দিয়ে বয়ে গেছে বুড়িগঙ্গা। বুড়িগঙ্গা নদী গঙ্গা বা পদ্মার পুরোনো প্রবাহপথ। আর এটি ধলেশ্বরীর একটি শাখা। বুড়িগঙ্গার তীরে গড়ে ওঠা ঢাকা শহরের বয়সও ছাড়িয়ে গেছে ৪০০ বছর। এই নদীকে কেন্দ্র করে ঢাকা হয়ে ওঠে অন্যতম বৃহৎ বাণিজ্যিক নগরী। পণ্য আদান-প্রদান থেকে শুরু করে যাত্রী পরিবহন, সময়ের সঙ্গে পাল্লা দিয়ে সবই বাড়তে থাকে। শিল্পায়নের সঙ্গে তাল মিলিয়ে চলতে গিয়ে মানুষ এই নদীকে একটু একটু করে ধ্বংস করে দিয়েছে। শিল্পকারখানার বর্জ্য থেকে শুরু করে গৃহস্থালির বর্জ্য সবগুলোর শেষ ঠিকানা এই বুড়িগঙ্গা। প্রতিনিয়ত প্রায় তিন কোটি মানুষের ব্যবহৃত বিষাক্ত পানি ও বর্জ্য এসে পড়ছে বুড়িগঙ্গায়। ঢাকা মহানগর ও কেরানীগঞ্জসহ আশপাশের এলাকার গৃহস্থালি, শিল্পকারখানা ও হাসপাতালের কঠিন বর্জ্যরে একটা বড় অংশ কোনো শোধন ছাড়াই প্রতিদিন বুড়িগঙ্গায় পড়ছে। অপরিশোধিত বর্জ্যরে প্রতিটি ফোঁটা এই নদীকে ধ্বংস করে দিয়েছে। ক্রমাগত দূষণে এর পানি এখন কালচে আকার ধারণ করেছে। কালো রঙের পানি উৎকট গন্ধ ছড়াচ্ছে। পানি দুর্গন্ধে শ্বাস নেয়াই দুষ্কর। নদীর পানিতে ভাসছে নানা ধরনের ময়লা-বর্জ্য। এর সঙ্গে পলিথিন দূষণ আরও বাড়িয়ে দিয়েছে। বুড়িগঙ্গা পরিণত হয়েছে বিশ্বের অন্যতম দূষিত নদীতে। নদীর এই ভয়াবহ অবস্থার জন্য দায়ী ঢাকা নগরীর মানুষ।বুড়িগঙ্গার পানিতে দ্রবীভূত অক্সিজেনের মাত্রা আশঙ্কাজনক হারে কমে গেছে, বেড়ে গেছে বিষাক্ত পদার্থের পরিমাণ। শুধু দ্রবীভূত অক্সিজেনের পরিমাণ নয়, পানির বিশুদ্ধতা নির্ণয়ের যত ধরনের সূচক আছে, সব ধরনের সূচকেই বুড়িগঙ্গার পানি জলজ প্রাণী বসবাসের অনুপযোগী। এই বিষাক্ত পদার্থ আর ভারী ধাতুর অভয়ারণ্যের মধ্যে কোনো জলজ প্রাণীর পক্ষে বেঁচে থাকা অসম্ভব। মাছ তো দূরে থাক, সাধারণ অন্য কোনো জলজ প্রাণীর অস্তিত্বও চোখে পড়ে না এই নদীতে। শুধু তা-ই নয়, বুড়িগঙ্গার পরিবেশ মানুষের জন্যও ক্ষতিকর।অপরিকল্পিত নগরায়নের পাশাপাশি দ্রুত জনসংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি বুড়িগঙ্গার পরিবেশকে দিনকে দিন দূষিত করেছে। ঢাকা শহরের মানুষের সব বর্জ্য ফেলা হয় এই নদীতে। শহরের ড্রেনগুলোর সঙ্গে যেন এই নদীর আছে এক আন্তঃসম্পর্ক। যার ফলে ড্রেনের মাধ্যমে বর্জ্য সরাসরি নদীতে এসে নিক্ষিপ্ত হচ্ছে। আবার বিভিন্ন শিল্পকারখানার কাঁচামাল সরবরাহ ও যাত্রী পরিবহনের জন্য প্রচুর পরিমাণ নৌযান নদীতে চলাচলের কারণে নৌযানের পোড়া মবিলও বুড়িগঙ্গা দূষণের অন্যতম কারণ। আর এসব কারণেই বুড়িগঙ্গা আজ হুমকিতে।দীর্ঘদিনের জমা হওয়া বর্জ্য অপসারণ করতে হলে হাতে নিতে হবে দীর্ঘমেয়াদি পরিকল্পনা। উদ্যোগ নিতে হবে ঢাকার অন্য নদীগুলোর সঙ্গে বুড়িগঙ্গার সংযোগ সারা বছর নাব্য রাখার।
The photo is about my city. Dhaka. Which is the capital of Bangladesh also. I live here. Thousand of buildings are standing along with crore of families. Each and every windows have their different stories around these people.
This is my city. I live here.
++++++++++ FROM WKIPEDIA +++++++++
Kolkata /koʊlˈkɑːtə/ ([kolkata] (About this soundlisten), also known as Calcutta /kælˈkʌtə/, the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River approximately 75 kilometres (47 mi) west of the border with Bangladesh, it is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India, while the Port of Kolkata is India's oldest operating port and its sole major riverine port. The city is widely regarded as the "cultural capital" of India, and is also nicknamed the "City of Joy".[1][2][3].According to the 2011 Indian census, it is the seventh most populous city. the city had a population of 4.5 million, while the population of the city and its suburbs was 14.1 million, making it the third-most populous metropolitan area in India. Recent estimates of Kolkata Metropolitan Area's economy have ranged from $60 to $150 billion (GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity) making it third most-productive metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai and Delhi.[11][12][13]
In the late 17th century, the three villages that predated Calcutta were ruled by the Nawab of Bengal under Mughal suzerainty. After the Nawab granted the East India Company a trading licence in 1690,[15] the area was developed by the Company into an increasingly fortified trading post. Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah occupied Calcutta in 1756, and the East India Company retook it the following year. In 1793 the East India company was strong enough to abolish Nizamat (local rule), and assumed full sovereignty of the region. Under the company rule, and later under the British Raj, Calcutta served as the capital of British-held territories in India until 1911, when its perceived geographical disadvantages, combined with growing nationalism in Bengal, led to a shift of the capital to New Delhi. Calcutta was the centre for the Indian independence movement; it remains a hotbed of contemporary state politics. Following Indian independence in 1947, Kolkata, which was once the centre of modern Indian education, science, culture, and politics, suffered several decades of economic stagnation.
As a nucleus of the 19th- and early 20th-century Bengal Renaissance and a religiously and ethnically diverse centre of culture in Bengal and India, Kolkata has local traditions in drama, art, film, theatre, and literature. Many people from Kolkata—among them several Nobel laureates—have contributed to the arts, the sciences, and other areas. Kolkata culture features idiosyncrasies that include distinctively close-knit neighbourhoods (paras) and freestyle intellectual exchanges (adda). West Bengal's share of the Bengali film industry is based in the city, which also hosts venerable cultural institutions of national importance, such as the Academy of Fine Arts, the Victoria Memorial, the Asiatic Society, the Indian Museum and the National Library of India. Among professional scientific institutions, Kolkata hosts the Agri Horticultural Society of India, the Geological Survey of India, the Botanical Survey of India, the Calcutta Mathematical Society, the Indian Science Congress Association, the Zoological Survey of India, the Institution of Engineers, the Anthropological Survey of India and the Indian Public Health Association. Though home to major cricketing venues and franchises, Kolkata differs from other Indian cities by giving importance to association football and other sports.
Etymology
The word Kolkata derives from the Bengali term Kôlikata (Bengali: কলিকাতা) [ˈkɔlikat̪a], the name of one of three villages that predated the arrival of the British, in the area where the city eventually was to be established; the other two villages were Sutanuti and Govindapur.[16]
There are several explanations about the etymology of this name:
The term Kolikata is thought to be a variation of Kalikkhetrô [ˈkalikʰːet̪rɔ] (Bengali: কালীক্ষেত্র), meaning "Field of [the goddess] Kali". Similarly, it can be a variation of 'Kalikshetra' (Sanskrit: कालीक्षेत्र, lit. "area of Goddess Kali").
Another theory is that the name derives from Kalighat.[17]
Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the Bengali term kilkila (Bengali: কিলকিলা), or "flat area".[18]
The name may have its origin in the words khal [ˈkʰal] (Bengali: খাল) meaning "canal", followed by kaṭa [ˈkata] (Bengali: কাটা), which may mean "dug".[19]
According to another theory, the area specialised in the production of quicklime or koli chun [ˈkɔlitɕun] (Bengali: কলি চুন) and coir or kata [ˈkat̪a] (Bengali: কাতা); hence, it was called Kolikata [ˈkɔlikat̪a] (Bengali: কলিকাতা).[18]
Although the city's name has always been pronounced Kolkata [ˈkolkat̪a] (Bengali: কলকাতা) or Kôlikata [ˈkɔlikat̪a] (Bengali: কলিকাতা) in Bengali, the anglicised form Calcutta was the official name until 2001, when it was changed to Kolkata in order to match Bengali pronunciation.[20] (It should be noted that "Calcutt" is an etymologically unrelated place name found at several locations in England.)
History
The discovery and archaeological study of Chandraketugarh, 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Kolkata, provide evidence that the region in which the city stands has been inhabited for over two millennia.[21][22] Kolkata's recorded history began in 1690 with the arrival of the English East India Company, which was consolidating its trade business in Bengal. Job Charnock, an administrator who worked for the company, was formerly credited as the founder of the city;[23] In response to a public petition,[24] the Calcutta High Court ruled in 2003 that the city does not have a founder.[25] The area occupied by the present-day city encompassed three villages: Kalikata, Gobindapur, and Sutanuti. Kalikata was a fishing village; Sutanuti was a riverside weavers' village. They were part of an estate belonging to the Mughal emperor; the jagirdari (a land grant bestowed by a king on his noblemen) taxation rights to the villages were held by the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family of landowners, or zamindars. These rights were transferred to the East India Company in 1698.[26]:1
In 1712, the British completed the construction of Fort William, located on the east bank of the Hooghly River to protect their trading factory.[27] Facing frequent skirmishes with French forces, the British began to upgrade their fortifications in 1756. The Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah, condemned the militarisation and tax evasion by the company. His warning went unheeded, and the Nawab attacked; he captured Fort William which led to the killings of several East India company officials in the Black Hole of Calcutta.[28] A force of Company soldiers (sepoys) and British troops led by Robert Clive recaptured the city the following year.[28] Per the 1765 Treaty of Allahabad following the battle of Buxar, East India company was appointed imperial tax collector of the Mughal emperor in the province of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, while Mughal-appointed Nawabs continued to rule the province.[29] Declared a presidency city, Calcutta became the headquarters of the East India Company by 1773.[30] In 1793, ruling power of the Nawabs were abolished and East India company took complete control of the city and the province. In the early 19th century, the marshes surrounding the city were drained; the government area was laid out along the banks of the Hooghly River. Richard Wellesley, Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William between 1797 and 1805, was largely responsible for the development of the city and its public architecture.[31] Throughout the late 18th and 19th century, the city was a centre of the East India Company's opium trade.[32]
By the 1850s, Calcutta had two areas: White Town, which was primarily British and centred on Chowringhee and Dalhousie Square; and Black Town, mainly Indian and centred on North Calcutta.[33] The city underwent rapid industrial growth starting in the early 1850s, especially in the textile and jute industries; this encouraged British companies to massively invest in infrastructure projects, which included telegraph connections and Howrah railway station. The coalescence of British and Indian culture resulted in the emergence of a new babu class of urbane Indians, whose members were often bureaucrats, professionals, newspaper readers, and Anglophiles; they usually belonged to upper-caste Hindu communities.[34] In the 19th century, the Bengal Renaissance brought about an increased sociocultural sophistication among city denizens. In 1883, Calcutta was host to the first national conference of the Indian National Association, the first avowed nationalist organisation in India.[35]
Bengali billboards on Harrison Street. Calcutta was the largest commercial centre in British India.
The partition of Bengal in 1905 along religious lines led to mass protests, making Calcutta a less hospitable place for the British.[36][37] The capital was moved to New Delhi in 1911.[38] Calcutta continued to be a centre for revolutionary organisations associated with the Indian independence movement. The city and its port were bombed several times by the Japanese between 1942 and 1944, during World War II.[39][40] Coinciding with the war, millions starved to death during the Bengal famine of 1943 due to a combination of military, administrative, and natural factors.[41] Demands for the creation of a Muslim state led in 1946 to an episode of communal violence that killed over 4,000.[42][43][44] The partition of India led to further clashes and a demographic shift—many Muslims left for East Pakistan (present day Bangladesh), while hundreds of thousands of Hindus fled into the city.[45]
During the 1960s and 1970s, severe power shortages, strikes, and a violent Marxist–Maoist movement by groups known as the Naxalites damaged much of the city's infrastructure, resulting in economic stagnation.[46] The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 led to a massive influx of thousands of refugees, many of them penniless, that strained Kolkata's infrastructure.[47] During the mid-1980s, Mumbai (then called Bombay) overtook Kolkata as India's most populous city. In 1985, prime minister Rajiv Gandhi dubbed Kolkata a "dying city" in light of its socio-political woes.[48] In the period 1977–2011, West Bengal was governed from Kolkata by the Left Front, which was dominated by the Communist Party of India (CPM). It was the world's longest-serving democratically elected communist government, during which Kolkata was a key base for Indian communism.[49][50][51] In the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, 2011, Left Front was defeated by the Trinamool Congress. The city's economic recovery gathered momentum after the 1990s, when India began to institute pro-market reforms. Since 2000, the information technology (IT) services sector has revitalised Kolkata's stagnant economy. The city is also experiencing marked growth in its manufacturing base.[52]
Geography
Spread roughly north–south along the east bank of the Hooghly River, Kolkata sits within the lower Ganges Delta of eastern India approximately 75 km (47 mi) west of the international border with Bangladesh; the city's elevation is 1.5–9 m (5–30 ft).[53] Much of the city was originally a wetland that was reclaimed over the decades to accommodate a burgeoning population.[54] The remaining undeveloped areas, known as the East Kolkata Wetlands, were designated a "wetland of international importance" by the Ramsar Convention (1975).[55] As with most of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the soil and water are predominantly alluvial in origin. Kolkata is located over the "Bengal basin", a pericratonic tertiary basin.[56] Bengal basin comprises three structural units: shelf or platform in the west; central hinge or shelf/slope break; and deep basinal part in the east and southeast. Kolkata is located atop the western part of the hinge zone which is about 25 km (16 mi) wide at a depth of about 45,000 m (148,000 ft) below the surface.[56] The shelf and hinge zones have many faults, among them some are active. Total thickness of sediment below Kolkata is nearly 7,500 m (24,600 ft) above the crystalline basement; of these the top 350–450 m (1,150–1,480 ft) is Quaternary, followed by 4,500–5,500 m (14,760–18,040 ft) of Tertiary sediments, 500–700 m (1,640–2,300 ft) trap wash of Cretaceous trap and 600–800 m (1,970–2,620 ft) Permian-Carboniferous Gondwana rocks.[56] The quaternary sediments consist of clay, silt, and several grades of sand and gravel. These sediments are sandwiched between two clay beds: the lower one at a depth of 250–650 m (820–2,130 ft); the upper one 10–40 m (30–130 ft) in thickness.[57] According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, on a scale ranging from I to V in order of increasing susceptibility to earthquakes, the city lies inside seismic zone III.[58]
Urban structure
Howrah Bridge from the western bank of the Ganges
The Kolkata metropolitan area is spread over 1,886.67 km2 (728.45 sq mi)[59]:7 and comprises 3 municipal corporations (including Kolkata Municipal Corporation), 39 local municipalities and 24 panchayat samitis, as of 2011.[59]:7 The urban agglomeration encompassed 72 cities and 527 towns and villages, as of 2006.[60] Suburban areas in the Kolkata metropolitan area incorporate parts of the following districts: North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, and Nadia.[61]:15 Kolkata, which is under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), has an area of 185 km2 (71 sq mi).[60] The east–west dimension of the city is comparatively narrow, stretching from the Hooghly River in the west to roughly the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in the east—a span of 9–10 km (5.6–6.2 mi).[62] The north–south distance is greater, and its axis is used to section the city into North, Central, and South Kolkata. East Kolkata is also a section.
North Kolkata is the oldest part of the city. Characterised by 19th-century architecture, dilapidated buildings, overpopulated slums, crowded bazaars, and narrow alleyways, it includes areas such as Shyambazar, Hatibagan, Maniktala, Kankurgachi, Rajabazar, Shobhabazar, Shyampukur, Sonagachi, Kumortuli, Bagbazar, Jorasanko, Chitpur, Pathuriaghata, Cossipore, Kestopur, Sinthee, Belgachia, Jorabagan, and Dum Dum.[63]:65–66 The northern suburban areas like Baranagar, Durganagar, Noapara, Dunlop, Dakshineswar, Nagerbazar, Belghoria, Agarpara, Sodepur, Madhyamgram, Barasat, Birati, Khardah up to Barrackpur are also within the city of Kolkata (as a metropolitan structure).
Central Kolkata
Central Kolkata hosts the central business district. It contains B. B. D. Bagh, formerly known as Dalhousie Square, and the Esplanade on its east; Strand Road is on its west.[64] The West Bengal Secretariat, General Post Office, Reserve Bank of India, High Court, Lalbazar Police Headquarters, and several other government and private offices are located there. Another business hub is the area south of Park Street, which comprises thoroughfares such as Chowringhee, Camac Street, Wood Street, Loudon Street, Shakespeare Sarani, and A. J. C. Bose Road.[65] The Maidan is a large open field in the heart of the city that has been called the "lungs of Kolkata"[66] and accommodates sporting events and public meetings.[67] The Victoria Memorial and Kolkata Race Course are located at the southern end of the Maidan. Other important areas of Central Kolkata are Park Circus, Burrabazar, College Street, Sealdah, Taltala, Janbazar, Bowbazar, Entally, Chandni Chowk, Lalbazar, Chowringhee, Dharmatala, Tiretta Bazar, Bow Barracks, Mullick Bazar, Park Circus, Babughat etc. Among the other parks are Central Park in Bidhannagar and Millennium Park on Strand Road, along the Hooghly River.
South Kolkata
South Kolkata developed after India gained independence in 1947; it includes upscale neighbourhoods such as Ballygunge, Alipore, New Alipore, Lansdowne, Bhowanipore, Kalighat, Dhakuria, Gariahat, Tollygunge, Naktala, Jodhpur Park, Lake Gardens, Golf Green, Jadavpur, Garfa, Kalikapur, Haltu, Nandi Bagan, Santoshpur, Baghajatin, Garia, Ramgarh, Raipur, Kanungo Park, Ranikuthi, Bikramgarh, Bijoygarh, Bansdroni and Kudghat.[16] Outlying areas of South Kolkata include Garden Reach, Khidirpur, Metiabruz, Taratala, Majerhat, Budge Budge, Behala, Sarsuna, Barisha, Parnasree Pally, Thakurpukur, Maheshtala and Joka. The southern suburban neighbourhoods like Mahamayatala, Pratapgarh, Kamalgazi, Narendrapur, Sonarpur, Subhashgram and Baruipur are also within the city of Kolkata (as metropolitan, urban agglomeration area). Fort William, on the western part of the city, houses the headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army;[68] its premises are under the jurisdiction of the army.
East Kolkata
East Kolkata is largely composed of newly developed areas and neighbourhoods of Saltlake, Rajarhat, Tangra, Topsia, Kasba, Anandapur, Mukundapur, Picnic Garden, Beleghata, Ultadanga, Phoolbagan, Kaikhali, Lake Town, etc. Two planned townships in the greater Kolkata region are Bidhannagar, also known as Salt Lake City and located north-east of the city; and Rajarhat, also called New Town and sited east of Bidhannagar.[16][69] In the 2000s, Sector V in Bidhannagar developed into a business hub for information technology and telecommunication companies.[70][71] Both Bidhannagar and New Town are situated outside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation limits, in their own municipalities.[69]
Climate
Kolkata is subject to a tropical wet-and-dry climate that is designated Aw under the Köppen climate classification. According to a United Nations Development Programme report, its wind and cyclone zone is "very high damage risk".[58]
Temperature
The annual mean temperature is 26.8 °C (80.2 °F); monthly mean temperatures are 19–30 °C (66–86 °F). Summers (March–June) are hot and humid, with temperatures in the low 30s Celsius; during dry spells, maximum temperatures often exceed 40 °C (104 °F) in May and June.[72] Winter lasts for roughly two-and-a-half months, with seasonal lows dipping to 9–11 °C (48–52 °F) in December and January. May is the hottest month, with daily temperatures ranging from 27–37 °C (81–99 °F); January, the coldest month, has temperatures varying from 12–23 °C (54–73 °F). The highest recorded temperature is 43.9 °C (111.0 °F), and the lowest is 5 °C (41 °F).[72] The winter is mild and very comfortable weather pertains over the city throughout this season. Often, in April–June, the city is struck by heavy rains or dusty squalls that are followed by thunderstorms or hailstorms, bringing cooling relief from the prevailing humidity. These thunderstorms are convective in nature, and are known locally as kal bôishakhi (কালবৈশাখী), or "Nor'westers" in English.[73]
Rains brought by the Bay of Bengal branch of the south-west summer monsoon[74] lash Kolkata between June and September, supplying it with most of its annual rainfall of about 1,850 mm (73 in). The highest monthly rainfall total occurs in July and August. In these months often incessant rain for days brings live to a stall for the city dwellers. The city receives 2,528 hours of sunshine per year, with maximum sunlight exposure occurring in March.[75] Kolkata has been hit by several cyclones; these include systems occurring in 1737 and 1864 that killed thousands.[76][77]
Environmental issues
Pollution is a major concern in Kolkata. As of 2008, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide annual concentration were within the national ambient air quality standards of India, but respirable suspended particulate matter levels were high, and on an increasing trend for five consecutive years, causing smog and haze.[80][81] Severe air pollution in the city has caused a rise in pollution-related respiratory ailments, such as lung cancer.[82]
Economy
Kolkata is the main commercial and financial hub of East and North-East India[61] and home to the Calcutta Stock Exchange.[83][84] It is a major commercial and military port, and is the only city in eastern India, apart from Bhubaneswar to have an international airport. Once India's leading city, Kolkata experienced a steady economic decline in the decades following India's independence due to steep population increases and a rise in militant trade-unionism, which included frequent strikes that were backed by left-wing parties.[52] From the 1960s to the late 1990s, several factories were closed and businesses relocated.[52] The lack of capital and resources added to the depressed state of the city's economy and gave rise to an unwelcome sobriquet: the "dying city".[85] The city's fortunes improved after the Indian economy was liberalised in the 1990s and changes in economic policy were enacted by the West Bengal state government.[52]
Flexible production has been the norm in Kolkata, which has an informal sector that employs more than 40% of the labour force.[16] One unorganised group, roadside hawkers, generated business worth ₹ 8,772 crore (US$ 2 billion) in 2005.[86] As of 2001, around 0.81% of the city's workforce was employed in the primary sector (agriculture, forestry, mining, etc.); 15.49% worked in the secondary sector (industrial and manufacturing); and 83.69% worked in the tertiary sector (service industries).[61]:19 As of 2003, the majority of households in slums were engaged in occupations belonging to the informal sector; 36.5% were involved in servicing the urban middle class (as maids, drivers, etc.), and 22.2% were casual labourers.[87]:11 About 34% of the available labour force in Kolkata slums were unemployed.[87]:11 According to one estimate, almost a quarter of the population live on less than 27 rupees (equivalent to 45 US cents) per day.[88] As of 2010, Kolkata, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) by purchasing power parity of 150 billion dollars, ranked third among South Asian cities, after Mumbai and Delhi.[89] Kolkata's GDP in 2014 was Rs 1.84 trillion, according to a collaborative assessment by multiple universities and climate agencies.[90] As in many other Indian cities, information technology became a high-growth sector in Kolkata starting in the late 1990s; the city's IT sector grew at 70% per annum—a rate that was twice the national average.[52] The 2000s saw a surge of investments in the real estate, infrastructure, retail, and hospitality sectors; several large shopping malls and hotels were launched.[91][92][93][94][95] Companies such as ITC Limited, CESC Limited, Exide Industries, Emami, Eveready Industries India, Lux Industries, Rupa Company, Berger Paints, Birla Corporation and Britannia Industries are headquartered in the city. Philips India, PricewaterhouseCoopers India, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Steel have their registered office and zonal headquarters in Kolkata. Kolkata hosts the headquarters of three major public-sector banks: Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank, and the United Bank of India; and a private bank Bandhan Bank. Reserve Bank of India has its eastern zonal office in Kolkata, and India Government Mint, Kolkata is one of the four mints in India.
Panoramic view of the Down town Sector V one of the major IT hubs of Kolkata as seen from the lakes surrounding Bidhannagar. Major Buildings such as Technopolis, Godrej Waterside, TCS Lords, Eden and Wanderers Park, Gobsyn Crystal, South City Pinnacle, RDB Boulevard, West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation (WEBEL) Bhawan can be seen.
Demographics
See also: Ethnic communities in Kolkata
A skyline consisting of several high-rise buildings
Residential high-rise buildings in South City
A slum area of the city
The demonym for residents of Kolkata are Calcuttan and Kolkatan.[96][97] According to provisional results of the 2011 national census, Kolkata district, which occupies an area of 185 km2 (71 sq mi), had a population of 4,486,679;[98] its population density was 24,252/km2 (62,810/sq mi).[98] This represents a decline of 1.88% during the decade 2001–11. The sex ratio is 899 females per 1000 males—lower than the national average.[99] The ratio is depressed by the influx of working males from surrounding rural areas, from the rest of West Bengal; these men commonly leave their families behind.[100] Kolkata's literacy rate of 87.14%[99] exceeds the national average of 74%.[101] The final population totals of census 2011 stated the population of city as 4,496,694.[8] The urban agglomeration had a population of 14,112,536 in 2011.[9]
Bengali Hindus form the majority of Kolkata's population; Marwaris, Biharis and Muslims compose large minorities.[102] Among Kolkata's smaller communities are Chinese, Tamils, Nepalis, Odias, Telugus, Assamese, Gujaratis, Anglo-Indians, Armenians, Greeks, Tibetans, Maharashtrians, Konkanis, Malayalees, Punjabis, and Parsis.[26]:3 The number of Armenians, Greeks, Jews, and other foreign-origin groups declined during the 20th century.[103] The Jewish population of Kolkata was 5,000 during World War II, but declined after Indian independence and the establishment of Israel;[104] by 2013, there were 25 Jews in the city.[105] India's sole Chinatown is in eastern Kolkata;[103] once home to 20,000 ethnic Chinese, its population dropped to around 2,000 as of 2009[103] as a result of multiple factors including repatriation and denial of Indian citizenship following the 1962 Sino-Indian War, and immigration to foreign countries for better economic opportunities.[106] The Chinese community traditionally worked in the local tanning industry and ran Chinese restaurants.[103][107]
Kolkata urban agglomeration population growth Census Total %±
1981 9,194,000 —
1991 11,021,900 19.9%
2001 13,114,700 19.0%
2011 14,112,536 7.6%
Source: Census of India[9]
Others include Sikhism, Buddhism & Other religions (0.03%)
Religion in Kolkata[108]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
76.51%
Islam
20.60%
Christianity
0.88%
Jainism
0.47%
Others
1.54%
Bengali, the official state language, is the dominant language in Kolkata.[109] English is also used, particularly by the white-collar workforce. Hindi and Urdu are spoken by a sizeable minority.[110][111] According to the 2011 census, 76.51% of the population is Hindu, 20.60% Muslim, 0.88% Christian, and 0.47% Jain.[112] The remainder of the population includes Sikhs, Buddhists, and other religions which accounts for 0.45% of the population; 1.09% did not state a religion in the census.[112] Kolkata reported 67.6% of Special and Local Laws crimes registered in 35 large Indian cities during 2004.[113] The Kolkata police district registered 15,510 Indian Penal Code cases in 2010, the 8th-highest total in the country.[114] In 2010, the crime rate was 117.3 per 100,000, below the national rate of 187.6; it was the lowest rate among India's largest cities.[115]
As of 2003, about one-third of the population, or 1.5 million people, lived in 3,500 unregistered squatter-occupied and 2,011 registered slums.[87]:4[116]:92 The authorised slums (with access to basic services like water, latrines, trash removal by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation) can be broadly divided into two groups—bustees, in which slum dwellers have some long term tenancy agreement with the landowners; and udbastu colonies, settlements which had been leased to refugees from present-day Bangladesh by the Government.[116][87]:5 The unauthorised slums (devoid of basic services provided by the municipality) are occupied by squatters who started living on encroached lands—mainly along canals, railway lines and roads.[116]:92[87]:5 According to the 2005 National Family Health Survey, around 14% of the households in Kolkata were poor, while 33% lived in slums, indicating a substantial proportion of households in slum areas were better off economically than the bottom quarter of urban households in terms of wealth status.[117]:23 Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for founding and working with the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata—an organisation "whose primary task was to love and care for those persons nobody was prepared to look after".[118]
Government and public services
Civic administration
Main article: Civic administration of Kolkata
A red-and-yellow building with multiple arches and towers standing against a backdrop of blue sky and framed by trees
Calcutta High Court
Kolkata is administered by several government agencies. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, or KMC, oversees and manages the civic infrastructure of the city's 15 boroughs, which together encompass 141 wards.[109] Each ward elects a councillor to the KMC. Each borough has a committee of councillors, each of whom is elected to represent a ward. By means of the borough committees, the corporation undertakes urban planning and maintains roads, government-aided schools, hospitals, and municipal markets.[119] As Kolkata's apex body, the corporation discharges its functions through the mayor-in-council, which comprises a mayor, a deputy mayor, and ten other elected members of the KMC.[120] The functions of the KMC include water supply, drainage and sewerage, sanitation, solid waste management, street lighting, and building regulation.[119]
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation was ranked 1st out of 21 Cities for best governance & administrative practices in India in 2014. It scored 4.0 on 10 compared to the national average of 3.3.[121]
The Kolkata Port Trust, an agency of the central government, manages the city's river port. As of 2012, the All India Trinamool Congress controls the KMC; the mayor is Firhad Hakim, while the deputy mayor is Atin Ghosh.[122] The city has an apolitical titular post, that of the Sheriff of Kolkata, which presides over various city-related functions and conferences.[123]
Kolkata's administrative agencies have areas of jurisdiction that do not coincide. Listed in ascending order by area, they are: Kolkata district; the Kolkata Police area and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area, or "Kolkata city";[124] and the Kolkata metropolitan area, which is the city's urban agglomeration. The agency overseeing the latter, the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, is responsible for the statutory planning and development of greater Kolkata.[125]
As the seat of the Government of West Bengal, Kolkata is home to not only the offices of the local governing agencies, but also the West Bengal Legislative Assembly; the state secretariat, which is housed in the Writers' Building; and the Calcutta High Court. Most government establishments and institutions are housed in the centre of the city in B. B. D. Bagh (formerly known as Dalhousie Square). The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was preceded by the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William which was established in 1774. The Calcutta High Court has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Kolkata has lower courts: the Court of Small Causes and the City Civil Court decide civil matters; the Sessions Court rules in criminal cases.[126][127][128] The Kolkata Police, headed by a police commissioner, is overseen by the West Bengal Ministry of Home Affairs.[129][130] The Kolkata district elects two representatives to India's lower house, the Lok Sabha, and 11 representatives to the state legislative assembly.[131]
Utility services
A telecommunications tower belonging to services provider Tata Communications
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation supplies the city with potable water that is sourced from the Hooghly River;[132] most of it is treated and purified at the Palta pumping station located in North 24 Parganas district.[133] Roughly 95% of the 4,000 tonnes of refuse produced daily by the city is transported to the dumping grounds in Dhapa, which is east of the town.[134][135] To promote the recycling of garbage and sewer water, agriculture is encouraged on the dumping grounds.[136] Parts of the city lack proper sewerage, leading to unsanitary methods of waste disposal.[75]
Electricity is supplied by the privately operated Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, or CESC, to the city proper; the West Bengal State Electricity Board supplies it in the suburbs.[137][138] Fire services are handled by the West Bengal Fire Service, a state agency.[139] As of 2012, the city had 16 fire stations.[140]
State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, or BSNL, as well as private enterprises, among them Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, Reliance, Idea Cellular, Aircel, Tata DoCoMo, Tata Teleservices, Virgin Mobile, and MTS India, are the leading telephone and cell phone service providers in the city.[141]:25–26:179 with Kolkata being the first city in India to have cell phone and 4G connectivity, the GSM and CDMA cellular coverage is extensive.[142][143] As of 2010, Kolkata has 7 percent of the total Broadband internet consumers in India; BSNL, VSNL, Tata Indicom, Sify, Airtel, and Reliance are among the main vendors.[144][145]
Military and diplomatic establishments
The Eastern Command of the Indian Army is based in the city. Being one of India's major city and the largest city in eastern and north-eastern India, Kolkata hosts diplomatic missions of many countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, People's Republic of China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Srilanka, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States. The U.S Consulate in Kolkata is the US Department of State's second oldest Consulate and dates from 19 November 1792.[146]
Transport
Public transport is provided by the Kolkata Suburban Railway, the Kolkata Metro, trams, rickshaws, and buses. The suburban rail network reaches the city's distant suburbs.
According to a 2013 survey conducted by the International Association of Public Transport, in terms of a public transport system, Kolkata ranks among the top of the six Indian cities surveyed.[147][148] The Kolkata Metro, in operation since 1984, is the oldest underground mass transit system in India.[149] It spans the north–south length of the city and covers a distance of 25.1 km (16 mi).[150] As of 2009, five Metro rail lines were under construction.[151] Kolkata has four long-distance railway stations, located at Howrah (the largest railway complex in India), Sealdah, Chitpur and Shalimar, which connect Kolkata by rail to most cities in West Bengal and to other major cities in India.[152] The city serves as the headquarters of three railway Zone out of Seventeen of the Indian Railways regional divisions—the Kolkata Metro Railways, Eastern Railway and the South-Eastern Railway.[153] Kolkata has rail and road connectivity with Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.[154][155][156]
Buses, which are the most commonly used mode of transport, are run by government agencies and private operators.[157] Kolkata is the only Indian city with a tram network, which is operated by the Calcutta Tramways Company.[158] The slow-moving tram services are restricted to certain areas of the city. Water-logging, caused by heavy rains that fall during the summer monsoon, can interrupt transportation networks.[159][160] Hired public conveyances include auto rickshaws, which often ply specific routes, and yellow metered taxis. Almost all of Kolkata's taxis are antiquated Hindustan Ambassadors by make; newer air-conditioned radio taxis are in service as well.[161][162] In parts of the city, cycle rickshaws and hand-pulled rickshaws are patronised by the public for short trips.[163]
Due to its diverse and abundant public transportation, privately owned vehicles are not as common in Kolkata as in other major Indian cities.[164] The city has witnessed a steady increase in the number of registered vehicles; 2002 data showed an increase of 44% over a period of seven years.[165] As of 2004, after adjusting for population density, the city's "road space" was only 6% compared to 23% in Delhi and 17% in Mumbai.[166] The Kolkata Metro has somewhat eased traffic congestion, as has the addition of new roads and flyovers. Agencies operating long-distance bus services include the Calcutta State Transport Corporation, the South Bengal State Transport Corporation, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation, and various private operators. The city's main bus terminals are located at Esplanade and Babughat.[167] The Kolkata–Delhi and Kolkata–Chennai prongs of the Golden Quadrilateral, and National Highway 34 start from the city.[168]
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, located in Dum Dum some 16 km (9.9 mi) north-east of the city centre, operates domestic and international flights. In 2013, the airport was upgraded to handle increased air traffic.[169][170]
The Port of Kolkata, established in 1870, is India's oldest and the only major river port.[171] The Kolkata Port Trust manages docks in Kolkata and Haldia.[172] The port hosts passenger services to Port Blair, capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; freighter service to ports throughout India and around the world is operated by the Shipping Corporation of India.[171][173] Ferry services connect Kolkata with its twin city of Howrah, located across the Hooghly River.[174][175]
The route from North Bengal to Kolkata is set to become cheaper and more efficient for people travelling by bus. Through April 2017 to March 2018, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) will be introducing a fleet of rocket buses equipped with bio-toilets for the bus route.[176]
Healthcare
See also: Health care in Kolkata
A big building in cream colour with many columns and a portico
Calcutta Medical College, the second institution in Asia to teach modern medicine(after 'Ecole de Médicine de Pondichéry')
IPGMER and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata is the largest hospital in West Bengal and one of the oldest in Kolkata.
As of 2011, the health care system in Kolkata consists of 48 government hospitals, mostly under the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, and 366 private medical establishments;[177] these establishments provide the city with 27,687 hospital beds.[177] For every 10,000 people in the city, there are 61.7 hospital beds,[178] which is higher than the national average of 9 hospital beds per 10,000.[179] Ten medical and dental colleges are located in the Kolkata metropolitan area which act as tertiary referral hospitals in the state.[180][181] The Calcutta Medical College, founded in 1835, was the first institution in Asia to teach modern medicine.[182] However, These facilities are inadequate to meet the healthcare needs of the city.[183][184][185] More than 78% in Kolkata prefer the private medical sector over the public medical sector,[117]:109 due to the poor quality of care, the lack of a nearby facility, and excessive waiting times at government facilities.[117]:61
According to the Indian 2005 National Family Health Survey, only a small proportion of Kolkata households were covered under any health scheme or health insurance.[117]:41 The total fertility rate in Kolkata was 1.4, The lowest among the eight cities surveyed.[117]:45 In Kolkata, 77% of the married women used contraceptives, which was the highest among the cities surveyed, but use of modern contraceptive methods was the lowest (46%).[117]:47 The infant mortality rate in Kolkata was 41 per 1,000 live births, and the mortality rate for children under five was 49 per 1,000 live births.[117]:48
Among the surveyed cities, Kolkata stood second (5%) for children who had not had any vaccinations under the Universal Immunization Programme as of 2005.[117]:48 Kolkata ranked second with access to an anganwadi centre under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme for 57% of the children between 0 and 71 months.[117]:51 The proportion of malnourished, anaemic and underweight children in Kolkata was less in comparison to other surveyed cities.[117]:54–55
About 18% of the men and 30% of the women in Kolkata are obese—the majority of them belonging to the non-poor strata of society.[117]:105 In 2005, Kolkata had the highest percentage (55%) among the surveyed cities of anaemic women, while 20% of the men in Kolkata were anaemic.[117]:56–57 Diseases like diabetes, asthma, goitre and other thyroid disorders were found in large numbers of people.[117]:57–59 Tropical diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya are prevalent in Kolkata, though their incidence is decreasing.[186][187] Kolkata is one of the districts in India with a high number of people with AIDS; it has been designated a district prone to high risk.[188][189]
As of 2014, because of higher air pollution, the life expectancy of a person born in the city is four years fewer than in the suburbs.[190]
Education
Kolkata's schools are run by the state government or private organisations, many of which are religious. Bengali and English are the primary languages of instruction; Urdu and Hindi are also used, particularly in central Kolkata.[191][192] Schools in Kolkata follow the "10+2+3" plan. After completing their secondary education, students typically enroll in schools that have a higher secondary facility and are affiliated with the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, the ICSE, or the CBSE.[191] They usually choose a focus on liberal arts, business, or science. Vocational programs are also available.[191] Some Kolkata schools, for example La Martiniere Calcutta, Calcutta Boys' School, St. James' School (Kolkata), St. Xavier's Collegiate School, and Loreto House, have been ranked amongst the best schools in the country.[193]
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
As of 2010, the Kolkata urban agglomeration is home to 14 universities run by the state government.[194] The colleges are each affiliated with a university or institution based either in Kolkata or elsewhere in India. Aliah University which was founded in 1780 as Mohammedan College of Calcutta is the oldest post-secondary educational institution of the city.[195] The University of Calcutta, founded in 1857, is the first modern university in South Asia.[196] Presidency College, Kolkata (formerly Hindu College between 1817 and 1855), founded in 1855, was one of the oldest and most eminent colleges in India. It was affiliated with the University of Calcutta until 2010 when it was converted to Presidency University, Kolkata in 2010. Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) is the second oldest engineering institution of the country located in Howrah.[197] An Institute of National Importance, BESU was converted to India's first IIEST. Jadavpur University is known for its arts, science, and engineering faculties.[198] The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, which was the first of the Indian Institutes of Management, was established in 1961 at Joka, a locality in the south-western suburbs. Kolkata also houses the prestigious Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, which was started here in the year 2006.[199] The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences is one of India's autonomous law schools,[200][201] and the Indian Statistical Institute is a public research institute and university. State owned Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal (MAKAUT, WB), formerly West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) is the largest Technological University in terms of student enrollment and number of Institutions affiliated by it. Private institutions include the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute and University of Engineering & Management (UEM).
Notable scholars who were born, worked or studied in Kolkata include physicists Satyendra Nath Bose, Meghnad Saha,[202] and Jagadish Chandra Bose;[203] chemist Prafulla Chandra Roy;[202] statisticians Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and Anil Kumar Gain;[202] physician Upendranath Brahmachari;[202] educator Ashutosh Mukherjee;[204] and Nobel laureates Rabindranath Tagore,[205] C. V. Raman,[203] and Amartya Sen.[206]
Kolkata houses many premier research institutes like Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bose Institute, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) and Indian Centre for Space Physics. Nobel laureate Sir C. V. Raman did his groundbreaking work in Raman effect in IACS.
Culture
Kolkata is known for its literary, artistic, and revolutionary heritage; as the former capital of India, it was the birthplace of modern Indian literary and artistic thought.[207] Kolkata has been called the "City of Furious, Creative Energy"[208] as well as the "cultural [or literary] capital of India".[209][210] The presence of paras, which are neighbourhoods that possess a strong sense of community, is characteristic of the city.[211] Typically, each para has its own community club and, on occasion, a playing field.[211] Residents engage in addas, or leisurely chats, that often take the form of freestyle intellectual conversation.[212][213] The city has a tradition of political graffiti depicting everything from outrageous slander to witty banter and limericks, caricatures, and propaganda.[214][215]
Kolkata has many buildings adorned with Indo-Islamic and Indo-Saracenic architectural motifs. Several well-maintained major buildings from the colonial period have been declared "heritage structures";[216] others are in various stages of decay.[217][218] Established in 1814 as the nation's oldest museum, the Indian Museum houses large collections that showcase Indian natural history and Indian art.[219] Marble Palace is a classic example of a European mansion that was built in the city. The Victoria Memorial, a place of interest in Kolkata, has a museum documenting the city's history. The National Library of India is the leading public library in the country while Science City is the largest science centre in the Indian subcontinent.[220]
The popularity of commercial theatres in the city has declined since the 1980s.[221]:99[222] Group theatres of Kolkata, a cultural movement that started in the 1940s contrasting with the then-popular commercial theatres, are theatres that are not professional or commercial, and are centres of various experiments in theme, content, and production;[223] group theatres use the proscenium stage to highlight socially relevant messages.[221]:99[224] Chitpur locality of the city houses multiple production companies of jatra, a tradition of folk drama popular in rural Bengal.[225][226] Kolkata is the home of the Bengali cinema industry, dubbed "Tollywood" for Tollygunj, where most of the state's film studios are located.[227] Its long tradition of art films includes globally acclaimed film directors such as Academy Award-winning director Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, and contemporary directors such as Aparna Sen, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Goutam Ghose and Rituparno Ghosh.[228]
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Bengali literature was modernised through the works of authors such as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.[229] Coupled with social reforms led by Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, and others, this constituted a major part of the Bengal Renaissance.[230] The middle and latter parts of the 20th century witnessed the arrival of post-modernism, as well as literary movements such as those espoused by the Kallol movement, hungryalists and the little magazines.[231] Large majority of publishers of the city is concentrated in and around College Street, "... a half-mile of bookshops and bookstalls spilling over onto the pavement", selling new and used books.[232]
Kalighat painting originated in 19th century Kolkata as a local style that reflected a variety of themes including mythology and quotidian life.[233] The Government College of Art and Craft, founded in 1864, has been the cradle as well as workplace of eminent artists including Abanindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, and Nandalal Bose.[234] The art college was the birthplace of the Bengal school of art that arose as an avant garde and nationalist movement reacting against the prevalent academic art styles in the early 20th century.[235][236] The Academy of Fine Arts and other art galleries hold regular art exhibitions. The city is recognised for its appreciation of Rabindra sangeet (songs written by Rabindranath Tagore) and Indian classical music, with important concerts and recitals, such as Dover Lane Music Conference, being held throughout the year; Bengali popular music, including baul folk ballads, kirtans, and Gajan festival music; and modern music, including Bengali-language adhunik songs.[237][238] Since the early 1990s, new genres have emerged, including one comprising alternative folk–rock Bengali bands.[237] Another new style, jibonmukhi gaan ("songs about life"), is based on realism.[221]:105 Key elements of Kolkata's cuisine include rice and a fish curry known as machher jhol,[239] which can be accompanied by desserts such as roshogolla, sandesh, and a sweet yoghurt known as mishti dohi. Bengal's large repertoire of seafood dishes includes various preparations of ilish, a fish that is a favourite among Calcuttans. Street foods such as beguni (fried battered eggplant slices), kati roll (flatbread roll with vegetable or chicken, mutton, or egg stuffing), phuchka (a deep-fried crêpe with tamarind sauce) and Indian Chinese cuisine from Chinatown are popular.[240][241][242][243]
Though Bengali women traditionally wear the sari, the shalwar kameez and Western attire is gaining acceptance among younger women.[244] Western-style dress has greater acceptance among men, although the traditional dhoti and kurta are seen during festivals. Durga Puja, held in September–October, is Kolkata's most important and largest festival; it is an occasion for glamorous celebrations and artistic decorations.[245][246] The Bengali New Year, known as Poila Boishak, as well as the harvest festival of Poush Parbon are among the city's other festivals; also celebrated are Kali Puja, Diwali, Holi, Jagaddhatri Puja, Saraswati Puja, Rathayatra, Janmashtami, Maha Shivratri, Vishwakarma Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Ganesh Chathurthi, Makar Sankranti, Gajan, Kalpataru Day, Bhai Phonta, Maghotsab, Eid, Muharram, Christmas, Buddha Purnima and Mahavir Jayanti. Cultural events include the Rabindra Jayanti, Independence Day(15 August), Republic Day(26 January), Kolkata Book Fair, the Dover Lane Music Festival, the Kolkata Film Festival, Nandikar's National Theatre Festival, Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally and Gandhi Jayanti.
Media
See also: Kolkata in the media and List of Bengali-language television channels
A five storied building in cream colour with multiple columns in front
Akashvani Bhawan, the head office of state-owned All India Radio, Kolkata
The first newspaper in India, the Bengal Gazette started publishing from the city in 1780.[247] Among Kolkata's widely circulated Bengali-language newspapers are Anandabazar Patrika, Bartaman, Sangbad Pratidin, Aajkaal, Dainik Statesman and Ganashakti.[248] The Statesman and The Telegraph are two major English-language newspapers that are produced and published from Kolkata. Other popular English-language newspapers published and sold in Kolkata include The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Indian Express, and the Asian Age.[248] As the largest trading centre in East India, Kolkata has several high-circulation financial dailies, including The Economic Times, The Financial Express, Business Line, and Business Standard.[248][249] Vernacular newspapers, such as those in the Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Odia, Punjabi, and Chinese languages, are read by minorities.[248][103] Major periodicals based in Kolkata include Desh, Sananda, Saptahik Bartaman, Unish-Kuri, Anandalok, and Anandamela.[248] Historically, Kolkata has been the centre of the Bengali little magazine movement.[250][251]
All India Radio, the national state-owned radio broadcaster, airs several AM radio stations in the city.[252] Kolkata has 12 local radio stations broadcasting on FM, including two from AIR.[253] India's state-owned television broadcaster, Doordarshan, provides two free-to-air terrestrial channels,[254] while a mix of Bengali, Hindi, English, and other regional channels are accessible via cable subscription, direct-broadcast satellite services, or internet-based television.[255][256][257] Bengali-language 24-hour television news channels include ABP Ananda, Tara Newz, Kolkata TV, 24 Ghanta, News Time and Channel 10.[258]
Sports
See also: Football in Kolkata, Kolkata Marathon, and Kolkata derby
Salt Lake Stadium during Indian Super League opening ceremony
The most popular sports in Kolkata are football and cricket. Unlike most parts of India, the residents show significant passion for football.[259] The city is home to top national football clubs such as Mohun Bagan A.C., East Bengal F.C., Prayag United S.C., and the Mohammedan Sporting Club.[260][261] Calcutta Football League, which was started in 1898, is the oldest football league in Asia.[262] Mohun Bagan A.C., one of the oldest football clubs in Asia, is the only organisation to be dubbed a "National Club of India".[263][264] Football matches between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, dubbed as the Kolkata derby, witness large audience attendance and rivalry between patrons.[265]
A Twenty20 cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Pune Warriors during Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens
As in the rest of India, cricket is popular in Kolkata and is played on grounds and in streets throughout the city.[266][267] Kolkata has the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders; the Cricket Association of Bengal, which regulates cricket in West Bengal, is also based in the city. Kolkata also has an Indian Super League franchise known as Atlético de Kolkata. Tournaments, especially those involving cricket, football, badminton, and carrom, are regularly organised on an inter-locality or inter-club basis.[211] The Maidan, a vast field that serves as the city's largest park, hosts several minor football and cricket clubs and coaching institutes.[268]
Eden Gardens, which has a capacity of 68,000 as of 2017,[269] hosted the final match of the 1987 Cricket World Cup. It is home to the Bengal cricket team and the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The multi-use Salt Lake Stadium, also known as Yuva Bharati Krirangan, is India's largest stadium by seating capacity. Most matches of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup were played in the Salt Lake Stadium including both Semi-Final matches and the Final match. Kolkata also accounted for 45% of total attendance in 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup with an average of 55,345 spectators.[270] The Calcutta Cricket and Football Club is the second-oldest cricket club in the world.[271][272]
Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium served as host of the 1981 Asian Basketball Championship, where India's national basketball team finished 5th, ahead of teams that belong to Asia's basketball elite, such as Iran. The city has three 18-hole golf courses. The oldest is at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, the first golf club built outside the United Kingdom.[273][274] The other two are located at the Tollygunge Club and at Fort William. The Royal Calcutta Turf Club hosts horse racing and polo matches.[275] The Calcutta Polo Club is considered the oldest extant polo club in the world.[276][277][278] The Calcutta Racket Club is a squash and racquet club in Kolkata. It was founded in 1793, making it one of the oldest rackets clubs in the world, and the first in the Indian subcontinent.[279][280] The Calcutta South Club is a venue for national and international tennis tournaments; it held the first grass-court national championship in 1946.[281][282] In the period 2005–2007, Sunfeast Open, a tier-III tournament on the Women's Tennis Association circuit, was held in the Netaji Indoor Stadium; it has since been discontinued.[283][284]
The Calcutta Rowing Club hosts rowing heats and training events. Kolkata, considered the leading centre of rugby union in India, gives its name to the oldest international tournament in rugby union, the Calcutta Cup.[285][286][287] The Automobile Association of Eastern India, established in 1904,[288][289] and the Bengal Motor Sports Club are involved in promoting motor sports and car rallies in Kolkata and West Bengal.[290][291] The Beighton Cup, an event organised by the Bengal Hockey Association and first played in 1895, is India's oldest field hockey tournament; it is usually held on the Mohun Bagan Ground of the Maidan.[292][293] Athletes from Kolkata include Sourav Ganguly and Pankaj Roy, who are former captains of the Indian national cricket team; Olympic tennis bronze medallist Leander Paes, golfer Arjun Atwal, and former footballers Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, P. K. Banerjee, and Subrata Bhattacharya.